AMD Unveils First ARM-based Server Processor, Codenamed 'Seattle'

AMD has just announced its first ARM-based server processor, codenamed 'Seattle' that will feature ARM Cortex-A57 cores. It will be available initially as an 8-core processor, with a 16-core version to follow later. Volume production of the chip is slated for the second quarter of 2014.

The Seattle processor is expected to operate at 2GHz, with performance rated between two to four times higher than its existing Opteron-X class processors, with improvements in compute per watt. It is also the first processor to incorporate AMD's Freedom Fabric technology directly onto the chip. This technology allows the processor to access a pool of shared storage, for virtualized I/O operations, through a 160Gbps Ethernet uplink connection. Other features of the Seattle chip include:-

The company isn't abandoning the x86 chip architecture as it has also announced the 'Berlin' and 'Warsaw' x86-based processors. They are scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2014. The 'Berlin' processor will be available as both a CPU and an APU, and will feature four next generation 'Steamroller' CPU cores. For 'Berlin' APU, it is touted as the first server AMD APU built on Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA), which allows the CPU and GPU to share access to system memory for lower power consumption and increased compute power. The Warsaw enterprise server CPU will feature 12 to 16 'Piledriver' cores, and it is positioned as an upgrade option from AMD's existing 6300 series. For the official AMD press release, please head over here. To get a better understanding of how AMD intends to position their ARM-based server chips and their traditional x86-class chips, do read our detailed report from October 2012 when AMD first signaled their intentions.